Professional Scrum Master Salary

A Professional Scrum Master™ is one who is responsible for managing the processes by understanding the Scrum values and principles. The job role of a PSM involves:

• Helping his or her team reach consensus at the end of the daily scrum
• Helping the team to understand what can be achieved in a specific time period
• The responsibility to remove obstacles that are hindering his or her team’s progress
• Scrum Master ensures the team doesn’t overcommit while ensuring that the team reached its highest potential.

In order to be recognised as a Professional Scrum Master™, you have to undertake the Professional Scrum Master™ course, after which you have to attend and successfully pass the Professional Scrum Master™ Certification examination.

Depending on which gateway you choose to acquire knowledge from the Professional Scrum Master™ course, the entirety of the course can range from 2 days to a week. Also, one needs to have patience in order to choose the correct platform, learn the materials and courseware that are provided, undertake the course and finally attend and successfully pass the Professional Scrum Master™ certification examination.    

All the institutions that are offering Professional Scrum Master™ certification are doing so at highly competitive rates and with that being said, it can be clearly understood that with patience and a thorough thought process one can complete the Professional Scrum Master™ course and become a certified Professional Scrum Master™ without having to worry about budget and affordability.

Once a candidate has undertaken the Professional Scrum Master™ course and earned their certification, their career will take a turn for the better.

Apart from being a mentor to other teams and companies, mentioned below are some of the other career options open to a certified Professional Scrum Master™.

• Certified Scrummaster® (CSM®)
• Information Technology (IT) Consultant
• Senior Software Engineer
• Senior Business Analyst
• Systems Analyst
• Project Manager, Information Technology (IT)

The salary of a certified Professional Scrum Master™ depends on a lot of factors, ranging from how many years they have been in the profession to their other certifications and credentials. With that being said, the global median salary for a certified Professional Scrum Master™ is  $75,500 per annum, according to ZipRecruiter.

Listed below are the different job profiles with the average salary for a Professional Scrum Master™.

Based on Job Role/ Designation:

Based on City:

Based on Educational Qualifications:

PSM or Professional Scrum Master certification is for candidates who want to validate their knowledge of Scrum. The certification is available in three levels: I, II and III.

Before you start preparing for PSM certification, you should know that you are not required to take a course. All you need is the knowledge of the framework and concepts of Scrum. You can either take references from the internet or join a training institute. Here are some more tips that will help you prepare for the PSM certification exam:

• Start with the Scrum Guide
• Familiarize yourself with the subject areas
• Take free practice tests at Scrum Open
• Practice with exam simulators
• Check out forum discussions and online articles

Both, the CSM and PSM certifications, are focused on the software development process. There is no better certification in this space. Your preference will depend on your expectations from the certification and your personal goals. Here are some differences that will help you make the decision:

• For the CSM certification, you will need to attend the 2-day training. You need to enrol yourself in an institute and submit assignments. You will have two attempts for passing the exam. For the PSM certification, you must purchase the password from Scrum.org. However, training is not mandatory for PSM certification.
• You need to have a score of at least 69% to get the CSM certification. For PSM, the minimum passing percentage is 85%.
• The CSM certification exam has only multiple-choice questions. PSM, on the other hand, has multiple choice, multiple answer, and true/false type questions.
• The cost of CSM certification can be between $400 to $2500 depending on the training provider. PSM certification costs depend on their levels with I, II and III available at $150, $250, and $500 respectively.
• CSM certification has 2-year validity. After 2 years, you will be required to pay $100 for renewing the certification. For PSM, there is no need for renewal.
• CSM is basic level certification, while PSM I has intermediate level of difficulty.

PSM certification is a little difficult and needs some bit of preparation. The passing score is 85% which is extremely high especially with a time limit of 60 minutes for 80 questions. That is why it is important to get training from an accredited training provider.

Like every other job, if you want to become a Scrum Master, you need to take specialization. When you have a PSM certification, it will demonstrate your ability and your knowledge of Scrum and how to apply it in real-world situations.

As soon as your online assessment is complete, the results will be available online and you will be able to download the PSM certification.

Here is how you can find the best PSM certification provider:

• Established reputation in the industry
  KnowledgeHut has trained over 250k+ professionals from 3000+ organizations globally in different domains and fields.
• Scrum.org curriculum
  KnowledgeHut’s curriculum is updated with the latest Scrum advancements. We thus empower you with the latest tools and techniques from PSTs to stay globally relevant.
• Experiential workshops
  At KnowledgeHut, you will interact with instructors in real-time. So, you will be listening, learning, questioning, and applying. All the instructors are industry-experts who deliver hands-on training to the participants.
• Learn from practitioners
  Through KnowledgeHut, you will get an opportunity to learn from active practitioners who are implementing the principles of Scrum in real projects through scrum activities, practical case studies, and team-based exercises.
• Mentored by industry leaders
  KnowledgeHut gives you the opportunity to learn from the best in the field. All our mentors are certified professional trainers from Scrum-org.
• Solid Resource Support
  We also provide a wide range of resources including tutorials, practice tests, articles, and interview Q&A.

At present, PSM I certifications are for life; they do not expire.

With suitable certification, anyone can pass the PSM I certification.

The PSM I is an online exam that has 80 questions which must be done in 60 minutes. You need to get at least 68 correct answers for passing the exam. Since there is limited time, you need to get familiarized with these concepts as much as possible. Here are some tips for clearing the PSM I certification exam:

• Stable internet connection
  The exam is taken online. So make sure that you have a stable internet connection. You should take the exam during the most stable internet connection hour.
• Select a peaceful time slot
  For getting better exam scores, you need to select a time slot during which you are most peaceful.
• Carefully read the questions
  Many times, multiple choice questions might seem similar.
• Beware of word tricks
  There are some common tricks used in the examination. So, you should learn how to differentiate between could vs should, participate vs attend.
• Use a timer while doing the practice exams
  This will ensure that you have the required speed for completing all the exams within the given timeframe. 
• Keep moving ahead
  In case you are stuck on a question, skip it. Mark the question and come back to it later.

Once you have successfully passed the PSM I certification, you can start looking at advanced-level PSM Certifications - level II and III. These certifications will teach you how to handle complex situations that may arise in Scrum Management. PSM II focuses on real-world complicated problems while the PSM III certification helps experienced Scrum masters in handling complex organizations and teams effectively.

To study for the PSM certification, here are some tips that you can follow: 

• Read the Scrum guide. Whenever you have a tricky question, you can refer to it. It is 16 pages long and can help clear up the Scrum concepts.
• Take the Open Assessments provided from the Scrum.org until you are able to get 100% in all the tests. You can also take the Product Owner open assessment that will prepare you to solve complex questions that might be asked during the exam.
• Search for a professional Scrum community and join it. You will be able to find explanations for any questions that you might have. Check out the discussions on Scrum.org.
• Take a paid Scrum Master training from KnowledgeHut. They will help you with any confusing or difficult questions that you might have.

There are no skills required to attend the PSM Training. However, it is always a good option to go through the Scrum Guide before the training.  

There are no fixed set of people to be eligible for Professional Scrum Master certification. PSM course is suitable for anyone who wants to enhance or deepen their knowledge of the Scrum framework and its applications.

It is particularly beneficial for those people who are working in the Industries such as Information Technology, Banking & Financial Services, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail Distribution, & Education using the Scrum framework or within an organization accountable for getting the most out of Scrum including Scrum Masters, Scrum Team members such as product owners and developers, Managers of scrum team, teams transitioning to Scrum and Professionals who want to build a career as a Scrum Master.

There are no prerequisites for attending the PSM Training.

The 2-day Professional Scrum Master™ course will cover all the Scrum.org rated curriculum and gives you hands-on knowledge and improve your skills at managing your team better.

Attending the PSM course is the most efficient pathway to becoming a certified Professional Scrum Master™.

The benefits include:

• Gain a solid understanding of Scrum knowledge
• Interactive session with the best trainers
• Get recognition throughout the industry and become a industry-recognised Professional Scrum Master™
• After getting the certification, get better job opportunities at the current workplace and new ones as well.

Effective Scrum Masters must have a deep understanding of best practices, terminology and values of Scrum. The three PSM certifications demonstrate that those who have achieved these levels are able to respond competently to challenging situations in the real-world context. The value of each certification is linked to the competency required to achieve it, and PSM holders are much in demand in the corporate world.

You can enroll into the PSM classroom training with just a few simple steps:

1. Visit the KnowledgeHut Website and search for the PSM Course
2. Select your city/ location, where you want to take the training
3. Click on enroll in the course page and select the batch type and click on enroll
4. Fill in your details and a reference code, if any
5. Complete the payment and get yourself enrolled in the course.

The main topics that are covered in the PSM training are as follows:

• Basics of Scrum Methodology: Get a clear understanding of Scrum theory and principles
• Definition of Done: Learn what is the Definition of Done in Scrum
• Scrum in organizations: Learn how to start using Scrum effectively in an organisation
• The role of Scrum Masters: Gain insight into servant-leadership to understand the role of a Scrum Master for Scrum Teams and other stakeholders.

Yes, you will get access to training material for the PSM Course, which will be delivered to you in electronic format via emails.

The instructors of the PSM Course by KnowledgeHut are industry experts and professionals scrum trainers who themselves have Scrum Certification and are a part of Scrum.org.

The Professional Scrum MasterTM course from Scrum.org contains 80 questions which includes Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer and True/False. All the questions are set in English and one need to score 85% in order to successfully pass the exam. The exam is taken online with only 60 minutes to attempt all 80 questions. You are expected to answer at least 68 questions correctly in order to pass the exam. The PSM exam does not require a proctor attending the exam.

Focus Areas of PSM Assessment:

• Inclusive of topics from several Focus Areas defined by the Professional Scrum Competencies
• Questions on your interpretation of the Scrum Guide and the application of Scrum values and Framework within Scrum Team.
• Many additional resources are available in the Scrum Master Learning Path to make you better prepared for the assessment.

The passing score for the PSM Exam is 85% and the total duration of the examination is 60 minutes.

After attending the course, if you attempt the PSM exam within 14 days and do not score at least 85%, you will be given a 2nd attempt at no cost.  You can take as many attempts as you require, but for each new attempt you will have to pay the requisite fee.

If you have taken a course from an authorised body, the exam fee will not be separately charged since the training fee is inclusive of the exam fee. If you choose not to take the course and want to take the exam directly, then a fee of 150$ is charged for the first attempt. Post that, for each retake, a fee of 150$ is charged, irrespective of the fact that you've taken the training or not.

Upon the completion of the PSM Course, you will receive a personal password from Scrum.org. This password has no expiration date and links to the specific page where you can take the exam and is valid for one attempt only .

There is no validity for any attempt.

Before applying for the actual certification and appearing for the real-time exam, you can take practice tests to assess your knowledge and cover your weak points in the curriculum. What's more, these free tests can be taken as many times as you want. You can attempt the practice tests here.

While it is not mandatory for a candidate to attend the training before taking the PSM Certification Exam, one can certainly benefit from it, because of the sheer amount of knowledge the industry leaders and trainers share in this course.

In order to clear the PSM assessment in one attempt you need to thoroughly understand the concepts that are being taught, interact with other resources, practice as much as possible and constantly revise whatever you have learnt so far.

Yes, until 100% is achieved.

No membership is required to pass the PSM 1 exam.

The certification that you earn after successfully passing the Professional Scrum Master™ exam is provided by Scrum.org.

The process to earn the certification is to undertake the PSM Certification course and successfully pass the Professional Scrum Master™ certification examination. Following are the steps to get PSM certification easily:

Step1 : 16 hrs of high-quality training by KnowledgeHut

Attend 14-16hrs of intensive training delivered by PSTs

Step2: Get your exam access code

On successful completion of the PSM training, scrum.org will email you the password for exam access.

Step3: Practice Free Sample tests

Start preparing with our free mock tests

Step4: Attempt the online exam  

Attempt the 1-hour online open-book exam consisting of 80 questions that include MCQs,MAQs, True/False questions

Step5: Get the PSM certification from Scrum.org

Scrum.org provides the PSM certification with lifetime validity once you pass the PSM assessment with a minimum score of 85%

Embark on your journey as a certified Professional Scrum Master

As soon as you complete the online assessment, your results are available online and you can download the PSM certification if you have passed the exam.

The Professional Scrum Master™ certification course has three levels of examination PSM I, PSM II and PSM III.

Most organisations require PSM I Level to represent yourself as a Scrum Master. Completing the PSM I Level, prepares you better to take up PSM II Certification since PSM II is more about real-time applications. Completion of PSM II, makes you better prepared for PSM III, after which you can become a certified trainer. While completing each of these levels is not mandatory, they do serve the purpose of enhancing your skills and making you better as a Scrum Master.

No, the Professional Scrum Master™ Certification is valid for a lifelong time period and thus does not require you to renew the same.

Every candidate is eligible for 14 PDUs and 14 SEUs on completing 14 hours of PSM training.

SEUs are Scrum Educational Units, issued by the Scrum Alliance. SEUs are the mark of educational experience needed to earn the CSP (Certified Scrum Professional) certification.